
2015 Position Previews: Goalkeepers
August 17, 2015 | Men's Soccer
SEATTLE -- The Washington men's soccer team is back into the swing of things, training daily in preparation for the beginning of the 2015 season. The Dawgs will host Gonzaga on August 28 to start the non-conference season for a match broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks. This week GoHuskies.com will preview the 2015 squad, beginning with the players that look to shut down the opposing attack.
GOALKEEPERS
It is unusual for a college program to lose one of the top goalkeepers in the team's history to the MLS Draft, but replace him with the starter from the team's best season ever. However, this is where Washington finds its goalkeeping situation as Spencer Richey is gone, drafted by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the third round, but Ryan Herman is back – the starter from the 2013 season that saw the Dawgs make their only Elite Eight appearance on record.
Richey leaves a legacy at UW, ranking second all-time in shutouts with 30 and second in goals against average at 0.89. However, his broken leg in 2013 opened the door for then-transfer Ryan Herman to make 19 starts that season, compiling a 13-2-3 record that included eight shutouts and a 0.83 goals against average. The Dawgs would earn the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Elite Eight.
With Richey back last season, Herman earned just three starts, winning each and allowing just three total goals. His 16-2-3 career record for the Dawgs is good for a .899 winning percentage.
The redshirt senior will once again take over the starting role this season, although he will be pushed by the developing Auden Schilder who has yet to play a college minute, but head coach Jamie Clark envisions taking on a similar role to Herman last season.
“Auden has made steps forward to play the role that Herm played last season,” said Clark.
Still, it will be the 6-7 local product from Mount Si High School that will anchor the Washington defense just as he did in 2013. That season he led the Pac-12 in goals against average, made 49 saves and won NCAA Tournament games against Seattle U. and Stanford, including shutting out the Cardinal.
Herman has also taken on a leadership role with the Dawgs, something that will serve the team well from the back. The vocal, commanding presence will help organize the Husky defense that hopes to be the backbone of the team.
Schilder is expected to see his first game action as Herman's backup and is the future for the Huskies in goal. His 6-5 frame is ideal for the modern goalkeeper and while he is already a noted shot-stopper, he is still learning the nuances of the position. Clark has enough confidence in Schilder that he considered using him for a shootout in the NCAA Tournament last season, despite never appearing in a game.
The third goalkeeper will be Saif Kerawala, a true freshman that has good experience with the Seattle Sounders Academy. He isn't expected to play this season barring injury, but has a promising future with the Huskies.